Apparatus for manufacturing electrically welded tubing



Deca .10, 193s.

w. M. NECKERMAN APPARATUS FOR IANUFACTURING ELECTRICALLY VIELDEDTUBING Filed July 9, 1931 12 Sheets-Sheet 1 .Ema SEF Y 3W W/LL/HM M. NECKEEMHN www UJDE. .ENFCH .IME

.DEI .505k USUR @ENT-c2202 Dec. 10, T935.. `w M NEgKERMAN 2,023,897

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING ELECTRICALL-Y WELDED TUBING FiledJulyfs, 1931 12 sheets-sheet 2 smic@ A Dec. 1U, 1935. w. M. NECKERMAN 023,397

APPARATUS Fon HAN'UPACTURING 'ELECTRICALLY wELDHD TUBING elw Dec. 1o, 1935. w. MQ-EKERMAN 2,023,897

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING ELECTRICALLY WELDED TUBING Filed July 9, 1931 l2 4Sheets-Sheetv 4 Dec. 10', 1935. w. M. NECKERMAN 2,023,397

APPARATUS Fox MANUFACTURING ELECTRICALLY wELED TUBING Filed July 9, 1951 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 gwganto@ WILLI/TM M. NECKERMHN Dec. 10, 1935. w. M. NEcKERMAN 2,023,391 APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING' ELECTRICALLY WELDEDv'VI'UBING Filed Jly 9, 1931 12 sneetssneet 6 gwoeto W/LL/HM M. NECKERMHN DeC- 10 1935. w. M. NECKERMAN 2,023,897

APPARATUS FORMANUFACTURING ELECTRICALLY -WELDED TUBING med' July 9,1951 12 sheets-sheet v W/LL/HM M NECKERMHN Dec. 10', 1935. w, M, NEKRMAN 2,023,897

APPARATUS FUR MANUFACTURING ELECTRICALLY WEI-DED TUBING Filed July 9, 1931 12 Sheets-Sheet 8 WML/HM M. /YECKEEMHH Dec. 1o, 193s. w M NECKERMAN 2,023,891

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING ELECTRIGALIJY WELDED TUBIG I Filed .my s, 1931 T12' sheets-sheet 9 WIL/ IHM M NECKEEMM Dec. 10, 1935 w. M. NECKERMAN APPARATUS FOR IANUFACTURING ELECTRICALLY WELDED TUBING Filed July 9. 1931-- 12 Sheets-Sheet 10 gmtot W/LL/HM M. NEC/mmm w fw Dec. 10, 1935. w. M. NECKERMAN APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING ELECTRICALLY WELDED TUBING v Filed July 9, 1951 12 Sheets-Sheet l1 31a/vento@ W/LL/HM M. NECKERMHH Dec. 1o, 1935. w. M. NEeKERMm 2,023,897

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING .ELECTRICALLY WELDED TUBING lilezl July 9, 1951 12 Sheets--Sheeiv 12 n//LL/HM M. NEcv/fE/QMHH '35 briefly as follows:

Patented Dec. l0, 1935` APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING ELEC- TBICALLY WELDED TUBING WllliamMNeok Youngstown, h10, ss-

ermsn, v signor to Republic Steel Corporations corporation of New Jersey application Jniy s, mi, No. 549,590

s Claims. (ci. zio-4i) This invention relates to electric weld pipe and to -a process and apparatus for making the same.

It relates more particularly to the continuous manufacture. of electrically welded pipe of large diameters and of heavy gauge material by the electricY resistance method.-

It is among the objects of this'invention, thereo fore, to provide la process for the .continuous manufacture of electrically welded pipe of large diameters from heavy gauge nat rolled metal wherein the process by which the flat form rolled metal passes from a hat to the finished pipe is i substantially continuous. Itis a further object of this inventionto provide a pipe mill embodying 1IA apparatus which co-operate'each with the other and each constitute a stepin the process ofform- This invention is directed toa mm Awhich 1.-.A

effective incarrying out the various steps in the process of manufacturing heavy gauge'pipe by the electric resistance methods of welding.

- Another object is to provide an apparatus for the handling of hat rolled .metal during that period ,when the fiat rolled metal is subjected tol such operations as will4 result in the finished y article, without the necessity of manual or overhead handling. o

' Toward this end the process contemplates various steps and'r'equires for its successful operation apparatus which is adapted to handle as well as operate on the fiat rolled metal. 'I'his process is Starting 4with hat rolled cold ferrous metal, it

is first subjected to a pluralityA of rotary shears where the edges are trimmed and the metal is reduced to the required width necessary for form- 40 ing ppe of the desired diameter. From this shearing machine the hat rolled metal passes into a cleaning machine' where the edges thereof are thoroughly cleaned by a cleaning process; vThe metal is then automatically conveyed to a forming apparatus wherein the metal is continuously and progressively shapedv from a flat tov a tubular form. The forming or bending is accomplished while the metal is moving with relation to the forming means and at a substantially uni- 59 form speed, and results in a straight blank which 4is substantially free from excessive and nonuniform stresses or strains, and which is elongated more cr less equally, if at all. Hence, there -is noloss or'expenditure of power by ressonof repeatedly starting and stopping thelfmovemeut of the metal. From the forming machine the seam of the formed pipe-is passed under the elect-rodes of a suitable welding machine in such a manner as to form a perfect weld.

Co-operating with the welding apparatus is a 5 plurality of sizing rolls which are effective to impart a perfect cylindrical shape to the pipe. From the sizing rolls the pipe passes through an annealing furnace, in the case of high carbon steel, to relieve any excessive stresses which might 10 have been set up in the pipe during the forming, welding and sizing operations. This step is especially advantageous only with .high carbon steel, for the reason that the forming machine is so constructed that in low carbon metal there l5 are relatively few, if. any, stresses' seil up in the walls of the completed pipe of'a magnitude which makes annealing desirable. Such stresses as are imparted to the pipe throughout its length are equalizedorrelievedwhollyor inpartinthe an- 20 nealing furnace and are rendered ineffective to cause inferior pipe. From the 'annealing furnace the pipe passes over a cooling bed to reduce it to such temperature that it may be acted upon by a straightening machine. Following the straightening machine the successive steps of cropping the ends of the pipe, facing and threading the same are next in order. From this point the pipe is vconveyed to a testing machine, where it undergoes a rigid hydrostatic test and is then dried, 30

. painted and is ready for commercial use.

Other objects of the invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will become more ipparent as the nature of the invention is better understood from the following detailed descrip- 35 tion of a-novel lmethod embodying my invention, a new product and the novel construction,

Y combination and arrangement of parts is shown the edges of the metal.

Figure 3 is a side elevation oi.' that portion of the conveyor system and its associatedparts 50 shown in Figure 2.

Figureiisa topplanviewof aportionoftho conveyor system illustraidng a pair of tilttables having s cleaning machine interposed therebetween.

Figure is a side elevation of the showing made in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a. top plan view of another portion of the conveyor system showing a forming apparatus employed in connection with the present invention and showing an aligning apparatus in the form of a skew table for feeding the at rolled metal to the forming apparatus.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the skew table shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a side elevation of the forming apparatus shown in Figure 7. I

Figure 9 is a top plan View of another portion of the system showing a welding machine ernployed in connection with the present invention and showing a run-out table leading from a, previous process, an aligning table for the welding machine and a transfer apparatus for moving the formed pipe from the former table to the latter.v

Figure 10 isa side elevation of the run-out and aligning tables and the transfer apparatus shown in Figure 9.

Figure 1l is a, side elevation of the actual weld-4 ing apparatus employed in connection with the present invention.

Figure l2 is a top plan view of a normalizing furnace which comprises an alternative process that may be employed and showing a cooling bed associated therewith together with auxiliary apparatus for conducting the Welded pipe to the furnace.

Figure 13 is a side elevation of the apparatus shown in Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a top plan View of that portion of the conveyor system which utilizes s, straightening machine for receiving the pipe from the noiemalizing process and a saw apparatus for removing the end sections of the welded pipe.

Figure 15 is a side elevation of the saw appa-1 ratus shown in Figure 1li.

Figure 16 is a top plan view of a facing machine and of a threading machine in the conveyor system and showing their auxiliary handling mechanisms.

Figure 17 is a side elevation of the apparatus shown in Figure 16.

Figure 18 is a top plan view of a coupling applying machine, a hydraulic testing machine and a weighing machine or scales, all operatively embodied'as a fragmentary portion of the conveyor system. l

Figure 19 is a sectional view taken along the line lil- I9 of Figure 18. l

Figure 20 is a top plan view of a. drying apparatus and of a painting machine operatively associated with the conveyor system and representing the last process in the method of manufacturing the pipe.

Figure 21 is a. side elevation of the apparatus disclosed in Figure 20. y

In all the above described views like characters of reference are employed to designate like parts throughout,` and the apparatus disclosed for carrying out the method involved is shown dia.- grammatically, suiiicient detail, however, bei-ng present to facilitate a. complete .understanding of each process andthe manner in which it is conducted. l

Generally speaking, the method employed consists in conducting separate sheets of flat rolled preferably cold metal successively through a. number of steps which prepare and form or shape the flat rolled metal into a cylindrical form, weld the seam and treat the welded pipes so that they emerge from the last process in nished marketable condition.

.The apparatus shown herein and constituting one embodiment of the present invention consists of instrumentalities for carrying out the various 5 steps of the process and conveyor and handling means for moving the metal in approximately one horizontal plane a small distance above the floor to and from the various instrumentalities.

This apparatus is so assembled that substantially 10 straight line production is obtained. and by' utilizing certain parts of the conveyor and handling means for temporary storage space substantially continuous operation of the various instrumentalities or of the niill as a whole may be had, al- 15 tho certain operations may be carried out more rapidly than others and altho certain instrumentalities may be temporarily idle while others are in operationi Considerable economies result from the preferred apparatus and its arrange-` 20 ment. The various instrumentalities illustrated include a shearing machine for trimming the sides of the sheets to insure uniformity in cross section of the nished articles, a cleaning inachine for preparing by abrasion the surfaces to 25 he welded and to be engaged by the welding electrodes, a multiple stage forming machine for shaping the at sheets into cylindrical form, a welding machine for joining the longitudinal edges of the sheets at the seam, a sizing unit for shaping the welded pipe into cylindrical shape and the approximately desired diameter seam, a normalizing furnace for permitting minor deformities caused hy stresses in the formed pipes and existi ing stresses themselves which are accompanied by any deformities to be assimilated and distributed and consequently relieved, a cooling apparatus in the' form of a hot bed, a straightening' machine, a. sawing machine for removing end sections of welded pipe; a testing apparatus for such sections, 40

a machine for facing'the pipe ends, a threading machine, a coupling machine for applying a coupling member to an end of each pipe, a hydrostatic testlng machine for testing the pipe, a weighing machine for establishing the relative value of each pipe, a drying furnace for removing the effects of the hydrostatic testing machine, and a paint machine.

Each of these instrumentalities and the conveyor and handling means associated therewith will be described hereinafter in suicient detail for those'skilled in the art to understandand be able to practice the same.

As each department of the invention is set forth,

that portion of the conveyor system and handling apparatus with which it is directly associated will be brieiiy described. A

The shearing machine-Figures 1, 2 and 3 The shearing machine proper is designated at 60 veyor system includes a run-in table for the shearing machine. This table consists oi' a franit work 22 hwving mounted thereon a plurality ofv power driven rollers 23 suitably driven by electric motor 24 by means of -a suitable gearing arrangement 25. The flat rolled metal is removed from 64 having forming rolls 65 operatively mounted therein and driven through suitable spindles 86 by drive units 61. Disposed between each of these driven passes and the next adjacent driven pass is a holding pass 6B. These holding passes are provided for the purpose of holding or setting the metal after it comes from the preceding driven pass and until it is received by the subsequent pass.

From the last pass 55, of the series of passes just described, the metal passes into idler passes, 56, l, 58 and 59. These idler passes consist of a frame work 69 having therein a plurality of rolls which contact with the metal on both sides thereor in eachpass. From the last idler pass 59, the metal is conducted into the passes 60', 6I, 62 and 63 which are also driven passes. The passes 6I and 60 each consists in a frame work i0 in which there is disposed both inside and outside rolls (not shown), which former rolls support the inside of the pipe being formed against the comparatively great pressure exerted by the outside forming rolls. The final passes 62 and 63 cause the metal to assume its final tubular shape, although when the pipe leaves these passes the seam remains open a limited amount due to the resiliency of the metal. The driven passes 60, 5i, 62 and 63 are each driven by a driving unit 7|.

' The driving umts s1 ana the driving units 'n are connected in series from a central driving shaft i2, driven from a motor 13 disposed upon the foundation 50.

The forming machine just described has associated therewith a skew table forming a part of the conveyor system. This skew table is desighated at 14 and is adapted to receive the metal as it leaves the tilt table 49, having been cleaned by the cleaning machine 33. 'This skew table 14 consists in a frame work 'l5 having mounted thereon horizontal conveyor rolls 'I6 driven in series from a longitudinal shaft il, in turn driven by a motor 18. These line-up rolls are disposed atv a slight angle to the transverse axis of the table and serve to propel the metal forwardly to the forming machine while holding one marginal edge of the same against a plurality of aligning stops 19. Leaving the skew table Il the metal is engaged by a pair of pinch rolls 80 of conventional design which guide the material into the forming machine to be acted upon as described above.

In carrying out the forming process the metal is continually formed by the passes above described into substantially cylindrical shape from a fiat form. While changing from fiat to substantiaily cylindrical form the metal is caused to flow smoothly without abrupt deformation.

The passes are disposed closely enough togetherv so that the metal is held in bent form* and is prevented from following any tendency which it might ordinarily have to spring back to a curvature of greater radius before it has become set beyond its elastic limit. Each pass carries the metal just suiilciently beyond its elastic limit that the desired transition from flat to tubular form is obtained.

'I'he bending does not set up stresses or strains in the metal which are unequal or non-uniform to a serious degree and does not elongate any 'part of the metal materially more than another part. The formed pipe thus has substantially square ends, is nearly straight, and contains no unrelieved stresses which are strong enough to weaken, damage or otherwise injure the weld as by causing twisting or bending of the welded pipe.

It will be noted that vthe conveyor Aand handling apparatus delivers the clean plate metal to the forming machine in about the same horizon- The welding ana'. 'sizing machine, Figures 9, 10 and 11 The welding machine is best shown in Figure 11 and forms the subject matter of the co-pending application led July 15, 1931 by Herman G. Blevins and bearing Serial No. 550,906 for Method and apparatus for electrically welding p'pe, now Patent' No. 1,982,415 and Frank W. Cramer Serial No. 576,260 iiled November 20, 1931 now Patent No. 2,016,414.

Referring to Figure 1l a foundation -8i serves to support a frame 82 including columns 83. A crosshead 84 is adjustably carried by the columns 83 by means of threaded adjusting rods 85. A transformer 86, provided with cooling ducts this carried on the crosshead 84 and serves to supply welding current to the electrodes 81' which are suspended from a carriage 88. The electrodes 8? are journalled in bearing brackets 89 secured to the carriage 86. The electrode rolls 81 are supported directly above a plurality ofpressure rolls 90 which serve to support the open seam pipes thereon. A plurality of line-up rolls iii (Figures 9 and il) are provided forwardly of the machine for driving the formed pipes into the machine to be welded. These line-up rolls are conventional in their design and lthe upper roll of each pair of line-up rolls is provided with a fin 92 which extends into the open seam in the pipe and serves to align the same with the electrode rolls 81'. A stand of feed rolls 93 is provided forwardly of the electrode rolls, which engages the pipe and drives the same through the unit. Rearwardly of the electrode rolls are a plurality of planishing rolls 94 which act on the inside of the welded pipe and on the outside of the same to work on the ash formed on the pipe during the welding operation. These planishing rolls iron the flash of the seam down. The internal rolls of the planishing unit, 94 are carried on a mandrel |01 whichis supported on the feed roll stand. 'I'he mandrel is supported from 1the housing4 of thefline-up rolls by means of a plate (not shown) which extends through-the open seam of the pipe.

Associated with the conveyor system and with the Welding machine is a handling unit. This unit is also4 associated with the forming machine shown in Figure 9 and described above. This handling apparatus comprises a frame work 96 including a rack 85 for pipes that are rejected as being imperfectly formed by the forming machine.

formed pipes from the forming machine. .This conveyor consists in a. plurality of hyperbolic rolls 9B, certain of which rollsy are driven through a plurality of shafts |00 which are each associatedwith separate motors 99 and others A run-out conveyor 91 receives the either of the racks 2l and placed upon the run-in table 22 by any suitable handlingl apparatus which is not sho'wn, but which may, for example, be an electro-magnet operatively mounted upon l a. crane-hoist. ,The flat rolled metal is placed lengthwise on the table 22 and is moved forwardly and is fed into the shearing machine 20.

Upon passing through the shearing machine 2B the edges of the fiat rolled metal are trimmed to the required width to produce pipe of a specic diameter. It is, ofcourse, `desirable that the longitudinal edges of the metal be trimmed by the shearing machine 2U so that the same are substantially straight, but this feature is subservient to the maintenance. of a strict parallelism of these edges. Where the edges of the flat rolled metal deviate from a straight line, if parallelism is maintained, upon rolling of the at rolled metal to substantially tubular form, the abutting edges at the seam will coincide.

The shearing machine is of standard design and is provided with an electric motor 26 for driving the same. The usual circular cutting roll's are made adjustable by means of hand wheels 21.

A run-out table 28 is provided for the shearing machine. This run-out table is a part of the conveyor system and includes a frame work upon which there is mounted a plurality of horizontal rolls 29 suitably driven by a longitudinal drive shaft 30 having a driving connection with a mo tor 3l. Marginal guides 32 are provided along one side of the table and the rolls 29 are inclined at a slight angle to a transverse axis of the table to maintain one edge of the trimmed flat rolled metal abutting against the guides 32 to properly align the metal upon the table 26. which is in the form of a lskew table.

The cleaning machine, Figures 4 and 5 The cleaning machine assembly is designated in its entirety by the reference numerals 33 and consists in a suitable foundation upon which are mounted the operative elements of the machine.

The machine employs a motor 34 for driving the shot to clean and prepare the edges of the flat rolled metal for welding. 'I'he machine employs cast iron shotas an abradant instead of sand on account of the deleterious effect of silica on the metal. It has been found that in the subsequent welding process an efcient weld can not always be effected where sand has been employed in the cleaning machine as an abradant. It is believed that the reason for this is that the silicaceous material which adheres to the metal, being an insulating material, will cause arcing at the electrodes. Where cast iron shot is employed, the lack of adhesion of the cast iron particles permits complete removal of the abradant before the at rolled metal reaches the Welding machine. The shot and removed scale may be carried to a separator (not shown) and be cleaned for use again.

The cleaning machine 33 is provided with an inclined tablev 38 across which the flat rolled metal is adapted to travel to receive the blast. In order that the metal may be fed onto this table in an inclined position a tilt table 39 is positioned in the conveyor. system ahead of the cleaning machine. This tilt table is provided with a plurality of normally horizontal rolls 40 adapted to be rotated by means of an electric motor 4| connected to these rolls by suitable gearing 42. A pair of pinch rolls 42 driven by'a'motor 43' serves to feed the metal at a denite rate of 5 speed onto the tilt table. The rolls 40 are carried by a rocking shaft 43 capable of being rocked by means of a motor 44. When the metal is brought onto the-table 39 so as tooccupy a position completely within the confinesv of this table the rolls 10 45 are partially revolved about the shaft 43 while still rotating. When these rolls 40 have assumed an inclination of approximately 45 degrees to the horizontal they remain in this tilted position while the at rolled metal is being sent into the 15 cleaning machine 33. After the edges, of the metal are cleaned the metal is run onto a second tilt table 49 similar to the table 39. The rolls 40 of this table normally occupy an inclined position commensurate with the inclination of the metal 20 passing through the cleaning machine. When this table has received a piece of at rolled metal, which has been cleaned, thereon, the rolls 40 are caused to assume a horizontal position and thus the metal as it passes from this table is restored to its normal horizontal position.

'Ihe cleaning machine 33 is so designed that it `will operate upon the longitudinal edges of the nat rolled metal on both sides at the same time a substantial distance inwardly thereof to effectively clean an area or band at opposite sides ofthe metal to prepare the same for thesubsequent welding operation. The width of the portions cleaned by the cleaning machine 33 is naturally in excess of the Width of the electrodes in the welding machine to insure effective electrical contact of the welding machine electrodes during the subsequent welding operation.

It will be noted that the conveyor and handling apparatus thus far described moves the metal in substantially the same horizontal plane located a short distance above the iioor from in front of the shear to beyond the cleaner, and thatthe horizontal sheared metal plate is tilted, passed thru the cleaner and caught on the other side by the conveyor and handling apparatus, al1 in a tilted position, and then is restored to the aforesaid position in a horizontal plane. The tilting permits cleaning of the under surface of the plate along its edges where the electrodes will later 50 contact.

The forming apparatus, Figures 6, 7 and 8 y The forming apparatus employed in connection with the present invention is preferably of the type shown in the co-pending application of Lawrence H. Park, Serial No. 565,007 filed Sept. 25, 1931 for Method of forming pipe, now Patent No. 2,012,795.

The machine (Figures 8 and 6) consists of a 60 suitable foundation 50 having mounted thereon a plurality of pipe forming units or roll passes. These pipe forming units are mounted successive- 1y along the conveyor system and are designated' at 5l', 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 51, 58, 60, 6I, 62 and 63 65 respectively in the order upon which they receive the metal to be formed. The unit 5| is in the form of a stand of pinch rolls which is effective in aligning the metal and maintaining a predetermined rate of speed at which the metal moves through the forming mill. The units 52, 53, 54 and 55 comprise driven passes for receiving the metal and forming the same. These units are described in detail in the above mentioned application and each consists briey in a housing of which, designated at I|, are idler rolls. A plurality ofbelt or chain conveyors |02, driven in any suitable manner from a longitudinal shaft |06, extendslaterally of the frame 80. These are provided with lugs |02 for engaging the pipes when they have been placed thereon after being automatically ejected from the conveyor 01 to transport the same laterally to a conveyor |05. 'I'he lateral conveyor |02 is driven by a suitable motor |01. The conveyor |05 is similar to the conveyor 0'! and is employed as a' runL-,in conveyor for the welding machine. This conveyor |05 is in substantial alignment with the line-up rolls 0| and serves to feed the pipes to these latter rolls.

Associated with the conveyor |05 is a seam aligning mechanism which mechanism is sub.

stantially the same as that shown in the copending` application of Sheldon Dill Cooper, illed March l, 1930, Serial No. 432,509 for Method and apparatus vfor handling bent metal. The conveyor |05 includes a plurality of transversely extending hyperbolic rolls 08 and a plurality of cylindrical rolls |08 the axis of the latter being disposed longitudinally of the conveyor. These latter rolls |09 serve to rotate the open seamed pipe about: its longitudinal axis while the rolls |08 serve to propel the pipe forwardly toward T'fins 92 on the line-up rolls 9|.

All of the power driven rolls shown associated with the Welding machine are driven from a suitable motor |l5 through suitable gear reduction devices carried by a shaft H6.

The pipe as it passes into the welding machine is iirst'engaged by the line-up rolls 9| with the iins 92 on the top roll of the line-up rolls extending through the open seam. From the lineizp rolls the pipe is received by the feed rolls 93 "which serve to pass the pipe through the weldmachine. As the open seamed pipe passes through the welding throat electric current is applied tothe electrodes 81. Upon entering the electrodes the seam of the pipe is normally open lbut' at the p'oint of contact between the pipe and 'the electrodes the seam is closed by the pressure ofthe pressure rolls` under the electrodes and simultaneously therewith 'the abutting edges of the seam are welded.

The method of welding followed, as disclosed in the application, is primarily a resistance method wherein the surface of the circular electrode rolls Contact with a relatively small portion of the pipe on each side of the seam as it is brought in contact therewith. I do not wish to be limited to resistance methods of welding for various other methods now in common use may be employedin this step.

Associated with the welding machine rearwardly of the planishing rolls 04 are a plurality of stands of shaping or sizing rolls. Four stands of these sizing rolls are designated at H8, H9, and |20. Each stand of rolls includes three hyperbolic rolls each of which acts upon the outer surface of the welded pipe throughout an arc of A plurality of vertical substantially 120 degrees. These rolls are in effect shaping or sizing rolls for shaping the pipe r Normalzng furnace and hot beds, Figures 10 12 and 13 The shaping of the hat rolled metal vfrom substantially flat to tubular form is essentially a cold rolling process, disregarding, of course, the heat 15 of resistance applied by th'e electrodes at the seam. Where sheet material of high carbon content is .employed certain stresses sometimes accompanied by corresponding strains become inherent in the walls of the pipe. In order to remove any stresses, set up in the pipe by this process and which might weaken the same together with any strains caused thereby, a normalizing furnace of the standard walking beam type and a cooling bed is provided for cooling the pipes after they have been removed from the furnace.

Referring now to the drawings, a, handling table is designated at |2|. 'Ihis table includes a run-out conveyor |22 and similar to the conveyor 81, employed as a. run-out conveyor from the forming machine shown in Figure 9. This conveyor is driven from a plurality of motors |23 in the manner shown in this last mentioned ligure. A plurality of conveyors |21 similar tothe conveyors |02 shown in Figure 9 are provided for 35 carrying the pipes transversely and depositingl them on a longitudinal conveyor |25. The conveyors |24 are driven from motors |25 while the conveyor |25 is driven by means of motor i2?. Erom the conveyor |25 the tubes are carried lon- 40 gitudinally to a normalizing furnace kickoff table |28 having a conveyor |29 associated therewith. A plurality of pick-up devices in the form of cradle arms |30 secured on a horizontal shaft |3| driven by a motor |32 through a suitable 45 gearing arrangement, serves to pick up the pipes on the conveyor |20 and places .them on the walking beams of the normalizing furnace |33, being propelled by the walking beams of this furnace (not shown). These pipes are ejected onto a runout table |34 having a conveyor V|35 associated therewith. This conveyor is similar to the conveyor |25 and serves to carry the pipes to a cooling bed |35. This cooling bed is 'in the form of a table having a plurality of skids |31 across 55 whichthe pipes pass transversely and are deposited on a conveyor |38 driven through suitable driving mechanism |39. While passing over the cooling bed the pipes become evenly cooled.

As is shown in Fig. l, the welded pipes may be conveyed or bypassed around the furnace if desired.

It will be noted here that the conveyor and handling apparatus move the welded pipe from the weleer to beyond (either thru or around) the 55 furnace, all in substantially the same horizontal plane in which the plate traveled. In fact the entire conveyor and handling system maintains the plate, the formed pipe and the welded pipe .m in about `the saine horizontal plane and at about the same distance above the iloor atv all times, so that, without. manual handling or the use of cranes a plate may be converted into finished pipe without ever having been more than a few feet above the floor or materially outside of one horizontal plane.

The straightening machine, the sawing machine, and the testing machine, Figures 14 and 15 This conveyor |38 which receives the pipes from the cooling bed serves to feed the pipes into a straightening machine shown in Figure 14 which straightening, machine is designated at Mil. The straightening machine consists in a frame Work Mi carrying straightening rolls E42 suitably driven by means of a motor N3.

From this straightening machine it@ the pipe is received by a conveyor |43 similar to the conveyors d1 and 25 and suitably driven by a motor Mt. A plurality of pick-up devices M5 similar to the pick-up devices i3d serve to remove the pipes from the conveyor idd and place them on a gravity table idd down which the pipes roll to the conveyor i115 of the same general type as the conveyor M3. The conveyor M5 moves the pipe into. operative relation with respect to the saw Me forming a part of the sawing machine lill. This sawing machine comprises a stationary portion it@ and a movable portion lait), which travels back and forth laterally of the plant as indicated by the arrows in Figure le to crop o one end of the pipe. The end portion oi the pipe which is cropped on consists in a section oi the pipe which has been Welded by the welding machine and also at the extreme end oi the pipe which hm not been Welded as described in connection with the Welding machine. This cropped on portion of the pipe is subjected to a testing machine in the form of a crusher ill. The section of the pipe cropped ofi is reduced to elliptical shape having a minor axis substantially equal to one half the diameter of the pipe and if there is no rupture of the seam in this test the pipe is allowed to move to a conveyor itl by means of pick-up tables 152. lllhe rollers of this conveyor move the pipe in a direction opposite to the direction imparted to the pipe by conveyory ith and in so doing the opposite end of the pipe is brought into operative relation with respect to a saw |53, carried by a sawing machine ld similar to the machine i631.

Facing machine and threading machine, Figures ze and 17 T'he conveyor |51 shown in Figure 14 is comparatively long and is shown extended into Figure 16. A plurality of cradle arms E58, mounted on a shaft 159, driven by a motor |68, removes the pipes from the conveyor |51, places them on skids iii! and conducts them one at a time onto a table |62 in alignment with a pair of facing machines |63 and |64'on opposite sides of the table |62. These facing machines are of the type disclosed in my co-pendirig application, Serial No. 470,684, led July v25, 1930. The facing machines |63 and |64 are each provided with operating portions |66, which advance inwardly on the ends of the pipes to face the same. Subsequently these operating portions |66 are retracted simultaneously and af plurality of cradle arms |61 mounted on a shaft |68 driven by a motor |69 removes the pipes from the table |62 and places them on skids |10 from test.

which they are conducted to a conveyor |1|. This conveyor |1| is also of the stmdard type employed throughout the conveyor system' and serves to move one end of the pipe in operative relation with respect to the threading machine 5 i12. This threading machine is of the standard type and it is believed suihcient to state that the machine threads one end of the pipe and ejects the pipes. From the conveyor |1| cradle arms |13 similar to the cradle arms.|58,and |81 remove 10 the pipe and place the same in a conveyor |19 which bears the same in operative relation to a threading machine |88 that thev conveyor |1| bears to the threading machine i12. This conveyor Sie moves the pipe into the machine 15 to thread the same. Upon ejectionof the pipe by the threading machine |88, the pipe is carried on transverse skids |8| to alongitudinal' conveyor |82 of. the same type as the conveyor itil?. 20

Coupiing machine, hydrostatic testing machine and weighing machine, Figure 18 The conveyor |82 shown in-Figure 16 is continued into Figure 18. From this conveyor |82 25 the pipes are engaged by cradle arms |83 on a common shaft i td and are conducted on skids |85 to the conveyor itt. One end of the threaded pipe is acted upon while in this conveyor |86 by a coupling machine 31 and a standard coupling, 30 which for example may be oi the type employed in coupling pipe sections of. an oil well, is applied to one threaded end of the pipe.

Fromlthe conveyor itt the pipes are acted upon by cradle arms |88 similar to the cradle 35 arms it@ and are carried on skids |89 onto a conveyor table 086i. Here the pipes are subjected to an internal test of approximately 1500 pounds per square inch and to a corresponding external The machine for accomplishing this test serves to detect pin holes or other defects in the pipes and rejected pipes may be discarded at this stage of the process.

From the testing machine |9| the pipes roll on 45 skids igt-to a table |93 upon which they are weighed by means of scales iii-t, to determine their relative value. After the Weighing operation the pipes are conducted to a conveyor |95 on skids 95. This conveyor |85 aligns the pipes 50 with a drying furnace E81 (Fig. 21). The conveyor |85 is driven by a motor 698 which reeds the pipes into the furnace |91 and through this furnace into a paint machine 28|?, from whichv paint machine the pipes are ejected onto a con- 55 veyor E99 in nished marketable condition. From the conveyor |99 the pipes are moved to tables where they are inspected, measured and numbered.

Although various changes, alterations and 60 modifications in. the foregoing apparatus and vmethod practiced herein may be suggested by those skilled in the art without involving inven-H tion, all such changes, alterations and additions fall within the scope and spirit of this invention 68 as claimed herein.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for making pipe which includes means for shearing the longitudinal edges of an elongated piece of ferrous metal to provide clean 70 surfaces to be welded together, means for cleaning one surface of said piece along its sheared side edges, means for forming the piece progressively from end to end into a substantially straight pipe blank having a. longitudinally ex- 15 Afaces on the outside thereof, and means includingroller electrodes engageable with said cleaned surfaces for electric resistance butt welding together the sheared seaml edges of such a pipe blank progressively from end to end and thruout substantially their entire radial and longitudinal dimensions.

2. Apparatus for making pipe which includes means for shearing the longitudinal edges of an elongated piece of ferrous metal to provide clean surfaces to be welded together, means for cleaning one surface of said'piece along its sheared side edges, means for forming the thus cleaned metal progressively from end to end into a substantially straight large diameter pipe blank having a longitudinally extending seam gap and hav-v ing the. cleaned surface on the exterior thereof, means including rotary electrodes engageable with said cleaned surfaces for electric resistance butt welding together the sheared seam edges of the blank progressively from end to end and thruout substantially their entire radial and longitudlnal dimensions, and means for relieving internal strains set up in the pipe during welding.

3. Apparatus for making pipe which includes means for shearing the longitudinal edges of an elongated, thick, flat, wide piece of ferrous metal, means for cleaning one surface of said metal near its longitudinal edges, and conveyor and handling means disposed between the shearing and cleaning means adapted to receive the said `plate in a horizontal plane and to tilt it and pass it in tilted position thru the cleaning means to expose the edge portions of the under side of the metal to a cleaning action, and conveyor and handling 15 WILLIAM M. NECKERMAN. 

